Leela’s Friend
1. Describe the character of Sidda.
Ans Sidda is one if the major characters in R. K. Narayan’s Story “Leela’s Friend”. Sidda is homeless, poor and
illiterate boy. He was employed as a servant in Mr. Sivasanker’s house. He was polite and obedient to his
master Sivasanker. He does both manual work like cutting of wood, gardening and looking after Leela in every
possible manner. Sidda was very kind and sympathetic to Leela. Sidda is an imaginative story-teller and
entertaining companion. But Sidda did not get any good behaviour from Leela’s parents. He gradually became
a good friend of Leela. He plays gently with Leela in his own style. It would have made Leela immensely
delighted. Sidda used to play tricks on Leela at times to get rid of her childish whims. But he was falsely
accused of stealing Leela’s gold chain for which he was arrested by the police. But Sidda was innocent about
the gold chain. He had to swallow all insults and abuses from all. His punishment was unjust and unlawful.
Sidda had some faults in his previous life. But now Sidda seems to have rectified himself in the story. Now
Sidda is a man with good heart. So, Sidda is a unique character in the whole story.
2. How did Sidda function as a companion to Leela.
Ans. Sidda had a lot of work to do. He washed clothes, tended the garden, run errands, chopped woods and
looked after Leela. Soon Leela and Sidda became bossom / intimate friends to each other. His games with the
ball and the moon pleased Leela to such an extent that she even went her mother to say that Sidda knows the
moon. He also used to tell stories of Gods, animals, magicians, princess to Leela when she was in bed. Leela in
turn tried to teach Sidda the few alphabets that she had learned. They became so close to each other that
Leela even accompanied Sidda when he run errands.
3. How did Leela try to teach Sidda?
Ans. Earlier, Sidda showed Leela the tricks regarding the ball and the moon. Later Leela played the role of a
teacher to Sidda. She made him squat on the floor and instruct him to copy what she writing in the
catalogues. However, heard Sidda tried, he could not write the alphabets or copy the little things drawn by
Leela. Sidda was a master of controlling the moon but his wrist was almost cracked to play the pencil. Leela
however redoubled her efforts on Sidda. At last Sidda played turned and said that Leela’s mother was calling
her for dinner. As Leela run out Sidda could cast a sign of relief.
4. Describe the character of Leela.
Ans. R.K.Narayan has delicately painted the character of a 5 year old girl, Leela, with sincerity, credibility and
perfection. Leela happens to be careless and restless girl with complete and overwhelming control / born of
deep affection over her reach parents. She being an innocent carefree child, does naturally crave attention.
Leela is so much loved by her parents that she gets whatever she demands. Leela is too much pleased with
the true and selfless company of Sidda. Her immaturity tracked out the true worth of Sidda where her
parents, blamed him of stealing her gold chain. To us Leela is a girl to whom love, faith and simplicity are the
ultimate factors for determining a character.
5. What stories were told Leela by Sidda? What effect did these stories have on Leela?
Ans. Leela was told by Sidda different stories. Sidda told stories of animals in jungles, of Gods in heaven, of
magicians, who could practice magical arts and make golden castles. He also told stories about princess of
those castles.
Leela listened to them with rapt attention. She was so fond of those stories that even when Sidda left
the house, Leela refused to sleep if she was not told stories.
1. Describe the character of Sidda.
Ans Sidda is one if the major characters in R. K. Narayan’s Story “Leela’s Friend”. Sidda is homeless, poor and
illiterate boy. He was employed as a servant in Mr. Sivasanker’s house. He was polite and obedient to his
master Sivasanker. He does both manual work like cutting of wood, gardening and looking after Leela in every
possible manner. Sidda was very kind and sympathetic to Leela. Sidda is an imaginative story-teller and
entertaining companion. But Sidda did not get any good behaviour from Leela’s parents. He gradually became
a good friend of Leela. He plays gently with Leela in his own style. It would have made Leela immensely
delighted. Sidda used to play tricks on Leela at times to get rid of her childish whims. But he was falsely
accused of stealing Leela’s gold chain for which he was arrested by the police. But Sidda was innocent about
the gold chain. He had to swallow all insults and abuses from all. His punishment was unjust and unlawful.
Sidda had some faults in his previous life. But now Sidda seems to have rectified himself in the story. Now
Sidda is a man with good heart. So, Sidda is a unique character in the whole story.
2. How did Sidda function as a companion to Leela.
Ans. Sidda had a lot of work to do. He washed clothes, tended the garden, run errands, chopped woods and
looked after Leela. Soon Leela and Sidda became bossom / intimate friends to each other. His games with the
ball and the moon pleased Leela to such an extent that she even went her mother to say that Sidda knows the
moon. He also used to tell stories of Gods, animals, magicians, princess to Leela when she was in bed. Leela in
turn tried to teach Sidda the few alphabets that she had learned. They became so close to each other that
Leela even accompanied Sidda when he run errands.
3. How did Leela try to teach Sidda?
Ans. Earlier, Sidda showed Leela the tricks regarding the ball and the moon. Later Leela played the role of a
teacher to Sidda. She made him squat on the floor and instruct him to copy what she writing in the
catalogues. However, heard Sidda tried, he could not write the alphabets or copy the little things drawn by
Leela. Sidda was a master of controlling the moon but his wrist was almost cracked to play the pencil. Leela
however redoubled her efforts on Sidda. At last Sidda played turned and said that Leela’s mother was calling
her for dinner. As Leela run out Sidda could cast a sign of relief.
4. Describe the character of Leela.
Ans. R.K.Narayan has delicately painted the character of a 5 year old girl, Leela, with sincerity, credibility and
perfection. Leela happens to be careless and restless girl with complete and overwhelming control / born of
deep affection over her reach parents. She being an innocent carefree child, does naturally crave attention.
Leela is so much loved by her parents that she gets whatever she demands. Leela is too much pleased with
the true and selfless company of Sidda. Her immaturity tracked out the true worth of Sidda where her
parents, blamed him of stealing her gold chain. To us Leela is a girl to whom love, faith and simplicity are the
ultimate factors for determining a character.
5. What stories were told Leela by Sidda? What effect did these stories have on Leela?
Ans. Leela was told by Sidda different stories. Sidda told stories of animals in jungles, of Gods in heaven, of
magicians, who could practice magical arts and make golden castles. He also told stories about princess of
those castles.
Leela listened to them with rapt attention. She was so fond of those stories that even when Sidda left
the house, Leela refused to sleep if she was not told stories.
